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Bro. Edu Cortez testifying at the Amoranto Stadium in Quezon City, May 2013.

I am delighted to share with you the testimony of a brother in Christ who is also a world-class wedding photographer. Glory to God! Bro. Edu, though he is fast becoming an acclaimed photographer, remains to be humble. He speaks softly when he testifies in the pulpit but one could sense his deep reverence to his Lord and Savior.

In 2009, when Typhoon “Ondoy” inundated much of the country, especially Metro Manila, Bro. Edu was faced with a huge problem: not only was he concerned with the safety of their rented apartment-cum-studio/office, but he also had a very important wedding coverage in Tagaytay. At past midnight after the typhoon just stopped ravaging the country with its torrent leaving Metro Manila massively submerged, Bro. Edu looked out of their apartment to inspect the situation. It was that morning that he needed to be in Tagaytay to photograph a wedding.

But he couldn’t see the street. Everywhere was water, and it was high. (Bro. Edu and us live in the same area. Our village was deluged up to over 6 feet high, first time ever. In our house, which is elevated from the street, the water in the first floor reached up to my husband’s chest. The flood was that great). But Bro. Edu’s photography business was just starting in those days. It was hard to get clients and if one ruins one’s name just because of a no-show, what will happen to him and his fledgling business? No, he couldn’t afford to lose this one.

Bro. Edu found himself in an almost impossible situation. It was a no-no not to cover the wedding. No, it just wasn’t possible. Just think, if it were your wedding and you have spent a huge amount of money for the preparation just to make it memorable, but then there is no one to take the photos – it is unimaginable! But how could he ford the rushing floodwater? His situation was desperate.

But he didn’t lose faith in the God he, his wife, and his beloved mother diligently serve in JESUS MIRACLE CRUSADE INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY. Quickly, he and his wife disassembled the cameras and other photography paraphernalia, and piece-by-piece, they carefully wrapped each one in plastic making sure it was as secure as possible. His beloved wife, Sis. Mherl, was silently crying as they packed the equipment. They put them all in a backpack including Bro. Edu”s shoes which were also wrapped. They had made sure that water would not leak into the gadgets but, who could be so sure? She was also worried about her beloved husband braving the fierce flood.

At 1:00AM, Bro. Edu went out into the darkness and into the murky floodwaters. He did not expect it was that deep! He was wearing a shirt and a pair of pants that he was willing to throw away when he had the chance to change. First, he was going to his uncle’s house along Katipunan Ave. in Quezon City. There, he would be lent a car to bring him to Tagaytay.

Bro. Edu had to grapple for support as he forded the floodwaters. It was up to his shoulders. He would walk the entire distance from their place along Marcos Highway near Marikina to Katipunan Ave. Brothers and sisters, that.is.far. At one point, he followed a barbed wire and held on to it. Debris, small and great, made it very difficult to forge on without hurting himself.

In front of Sta. Lucia East Grandmall, he was faced with the decision whether to walk at the side of the road or at the center. He chose to walk at the center thinking there might be manholes at the side. But he was wrong. Before he knew it, he fell into an open manhole and he was quickly sinking! He cried to God for help and suddenly, a strong force lifted him up from the hole and plunged him onto the ground. But he had lost his balance and he was being taken by the fierce current. But just as he thought he was helpless, he got entangled with a rope, and miraculously, this rope pulled him in the other direction and he came through safely.

To make the story short, he arrived in Tagaytay at 7:00 in the morning, just in time for the wedding he needed to cover – weary but grateful that God saved him from the gruesome flood. His clients were actually surprised to see him since they knew how great the flood was.

After the wedding, his clients had time to watch news on TV and they saw the great danger Bro. Edu went through just to do his work he was hired for. They saw and they were shocked. How could Bro. Edu have survived that fierce flood? Why did he care so much for their wedding and endangering his own life in the process? Because of this, the couple found deep gratitude to Bro. Edu. They sent him a considerable amount of money to his bank account as a token of their gratitude. And not only that, they also created a website featuring Bro. Edu’s photography, informing all their friends and associates, that here is a very talented photographer and one who doesn’t let down.